Arc-lamp.



W; 1m. RYAN.

ARC LAMP. APPLICATION FILED N0v.1s,19os

Patented Jan. 11,1910.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Inventor ber DAJQyan.

Atty.

Witnesses:

W. DA. RYAN. ARC LAMP.

APPLIUKTION FILED NOV. 18, 1903.

946,156. Pa.tented Jan.11, 1910.

4 BHEBTS-SHEET 2.

III illw W. DA. RYAN.

ARC LAMP.

I APPLICATION FILED NOV. 18, 1903. 946, 1 56. Patented Jan 11, 1910.

4 SHEETB-SHEBT 3.

Fig.5.

\Nitness'es: Invenfior Walter- DA. Ryan W. DA. RYAN.

ARC LAMP. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 18, 1903. 94:6, 1 56. Patented Jan. 11,1910.

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Fig. 4.

Witnesses Iwver-morg I I Walter- DAJQyan.

; UNITED STATES PATENT oEEroE.

WALTER DA. RYAN, OF LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO GENERAL ELECTRIC.

COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

ARC-LAMP.

Specification of Letters Patent. Pa,tnted an. 11, 191( Application filed November 18, 1903. Serial No. 181,581.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WALTER DA. RYAN,

a subject of the King of Great Britain, re-

improve the construction and operation of arc lamps.

The particular type of lam which I have hereinafter described and illustrated is a so-called twin are lamp', in which a pair of arcs in series are employed in the same lamp structure, although all of the features of my invention are not limited to such a construction.

' My invention in the form illustrated is characterized, in its more limited aspect, by the following facts: The-two arcs extend in opposite directions from a fixed electrode to movable electrodes, a'suitable magnetic field being rovided to correctly position the arcs;

a sing e dash-pot is arranged to control the combined motion of both movable electrodes or the motion of either one separately; suitable regulating means are employed for controlling each arc and the re ulating means for each are is more or less dependent upon the condition of the other are.

My invention also contemplates certain improvements in the electrodes and means for producing an even magnetic field, and other'features of construction of the lam All of the features of novelty possessed by my invention are pointed out in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this specification.

For a better understanding of my invention, referencemay be had to the accompanying drawings, of which 1 Figure 1 is an elevation partly in section illustrating the construction of a lamp embodying m invention; Fig. 1 is a partial sectional p an view taken on. the line A A of Fig. 1 showing the arrangement of the electrodes; Fig. 1 is a similar view showing a modified arrangement of the electrodes; Fig. 2 is an elevation partly in section taken at right angles to Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a dia-,

gram illustrating one arrangement of the electrical circuits of my lamp; and Flg. 4

is a diagram illustrating a somewhat different arrangement of circuits.

Referring to the drawings, a hood 1 is shown from which thelamp mechanism is supported. A pair of posts 2 each secured at their upper ends to the hood 1 carry at their lower ends ,a platform 3. Posts -extending downwardly from the platform 3 carryat their lower ends another latform 5. Supports 6 and 7 are carried rom the under side of the platform 3 and to these supports electrode-carrying members 8 and 9 are pivoted. The members 8 and 9 are each provided on their outer sides with a pair of solenoids or coils 10 and 11, and 12 and 13' respectively. The axes of these coils are substantially at right angles to the members 8 and 9. The armatures 14 and 15 of the coils consist each of a U-shaped bar of magnetic material held in position by mem bers 16 and 17 respectively, which in turn are secured to opposite pairs ofposts 4.-

The members8 and 9 carry at their lower ends extensions 18 and 19 respectively, which extensions are pivoted to and insulated from the members 8 and 9 at the points 20 and 21 respectively. The extensions 18 and 19 pass through slots provided for the purpose in the lower platform and have pivotedto them at their lower end clamping devices 22 and 23 respectively, in which the movable electrodes 24 and 25 respectively are secured. Binding posts- 26 and 27 are carried by the extensions 18 and 19respectively, and fiexiwhich are so arranged that one is adjacent thus dividing the arc end'of each electrode into a plurality of fingers or branches. As

.will be readily understood by those skilled away a certain amount the arc will shift to another finger on account of the decreased resistance of the second path. This separation of the electrode into fingers not only localizes the are but prevents the rapid conduction of heat from the crater and thus gives a more efiicient illumination. By arranging the three electrodes in the manner shown the arcs formed between each movable electrode and the fixed electrode are not co-axial. I find this desirable as otherwise there is a tendency for the two arcs to merge in one long are which is objectionable. The lower platform also carries an electromagnet 33 for deflecting the are between the ends of the electrodes. The core of the electromagnet is U-shaped and the legs of the U- shaped core extend through, and are secured to, the lower platform. The yoke of the U- shaped core, which is located above the platform, carries an exciting coil 34. The lower end of each leg carries a flattened pole piece or shoe 35. In the form of my invention illustrated in the drawings the shoes are formed with threaded sockets into which the ends of the legs of the core are screwed. By threading the shoes up or down on the legs of the core the position of the former may be altered with respect to the ends of the electrodes to vary the influence of the electromagnet on the arc. Suitable lock nuts 35 may be employed to secure the shoes in any desired position. The pole pieces 35, which are placed at opposite edges of the fixed electrode 28, have formed on their inner sides a number of substantially horizontal kerfs 36 thus dividing the pole faces into a plurality of fingers 37. This subdivision of the face of the pole piece of the electromagnet insures a properly distributed magnetic field for directing the arcs between the electrode. By properly distributing the kerfs and proportioning the parts, the distribution of the magnetic field between the pole pieces can be arranged as desired.

The members 8 and 9 are provided at their upper ends with the rigidly attached extensions 38 and 39. These extensions pass upward through apertures in the platform or sup ort 3 formed for the purpose. Links 42 an 43 are secured to the extensions 38 and 39 respectively at the points 40 and 41 respectively. The links 42 and 43are pivoted to each other and to the movable member 46 of a dash-pot at the point 45. The other member 47 of the dash-pot is piv-.

oted to a support 48 adjustably secured to the platform 3. By this arrangement a movement of either or both of the members 8 and 9 outward about their points of pivotal support tends to cause a separation of the members 46 and 47. The valves of the dash-pot are arranged to prevent a rapid movement of the member 46 in the upward direction.

Binding posts 48 and 49 carried by the upper platform 3 are connected to some suitable source of current supply. To avoid confusion, the various leads connecting the binding posts 48, 49 with the various solenoids and the electrodes of the lamp are not shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing. A suitable casing 50 depends from the lower edge of the hood 1 and carries at its lower edge a globe 51 which incloses the electrodes.

Referring to the diagram shown in Fig. 3, it will be seen that the binding post 48 and the electrode 24 are connected through windings 52, 53 and 54, these windings forming part of the windings of the coils 10, 11 and 34 respectively. Similarly'the binding post 49 and the electrode 25 are connected through windings 52, 53, 54, which form part of the windings of the coils 12, 13 and 34 respectively. The binding post 49 and the stationary electrode 28 are connected by a circuit which includes the windings 55 and 56, these windings forming part of the windings of the solenoids 10 and 11. Similarly the binding post 48 and the stationary electrode 28 are connected by a circuit which includes windings 55' and 56, and these windings form part of the windings of the solenoids l2 and 13 respectively. The two parts of the windings of each of the coils 10, 11, 12 and 13 are arranged so that the passage of current througheach of said parts tends to move the coil outward.

The operation of my lamp connected as shown in Fig. 3 is as follows: On the passage of current through the lamp, the members 8 and 9, which are normally held by gravity so that the electrodes 24 and 25 are in contact with the electrode 28, move outward by reason of the magnetic action between the coils 10 and 11, and 12 and 13, respectively, with the cores l4 and 15 respectively, until the magnetic forces pulling the members out are balanced by the weight of the members and parts carried thereby. As seen in Figs. 1 and 2, suitable adjustable weights 8 and 9 are carried bythe members 8 and 9 respectively by means of which the center of gravity of the members can be changed. Any sudden outward movement of either or both of the members is resisted by the action of the dash-pot. When the members 8 and 9 are moved outward, thereby movin the, electrodes 24 and 25 away from the electrode 28, a pair of arcs is formed, one between the electrodes 24 and 28 and the other between the electrodes 28 and 25. Normally these arcs are substantial continuations of one another and are substantially of the same length. As the electrodes begin to waste away or for any other reason the are sprung between one set of electrodes, 28 and 25 for instance, becomes. longer thanthat between the electrodes 24 and 28, the voltage of the two arcs becomes unequal, that between the electrodes 28 and 25 beingthe higher. This will cause more current to flow through the windings 55 and 56 in shunt t0 the arcs between the electrodes 28 and 25, and ,lQSS' current through the windings 55 and56 which are in shunt with the are between the electrodes 24 and 28. This variation of current in the shunt coils will cause a movement of the members8 and 9 in the direction necessary to equalize the two arcs so that the arcs are automatically maintained in the same condition. I

Preferably the electrodes 24 and 25 are inclined to the electrode 28, as shown in Fig. 1, as by this construction the tendency of the arc to creep up the electrodes against the action of the electromagnet 33 is lessened.. By reason of the various pivotal connections between the electrodes. 24 and. 25 and the-members 8 and 9 respectively,

' this angle can be maintained as the electrodes waste away.- I

In the diagram shown in Fig. 4 I have illustrated a somewhat different arrangement of circuits for my lamp. In this form of my invention the windings 52, 53, 54, 52', 53' and 54 are as shown in Fig. 3. The shunt coilsi55 and 56 are in series with each other and in shunt to the are between the respectively.- WVith this arrangement, when the two arcs becomeuneqiial, that between the electrodes 24 and 28 being the longer, for instance, the increase of current in the coils 55 and 56 will tend to cause a movement of the electrode 24 toward the elctrode 28 and a movement of the electrode 25 away from the electrode 28, thus evening the lengths of'the two arcs. The corresponding decrease in the current flowing through the coils 55 and 56 will produce a corresponding decrease in the forces resisting this equalizing movement. Except, as noted, the operation of the lamps having the circuits shown in Figs. 3 and 4 is the same.

When the lamp is intended to beoperated with direct current it is desirable that the positive movable electrode which, in Fig. 1,

I is assumed to be the electrode 24, should be about twice as thick as the negative movable electrode 25. middle electrode should be formed in two With this arrangement the parts 28 and 28" which may or may not be integral with each other but may be carried in the same holder in an case. The part 28, which is adjacent to t e electrode 25, is about equal in thickness to the electrode 24' while the part 28", adjacent to the electrode 24', is about equal in thickness to the electrode 25. With this arrangement the consumption of all the electrodes will be substantially the same.

Instead of forming the windings 34 of the electromagnet 33 in two parts 54 and 54", I sometimes dispense with one part, as for instance the part 54.

While I have described and illustrated the best embodiments of my invention which arenow known to me, yet it will be readily understood that many changes can be made in'the form of my invention without departing from its spirit.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United-States, is,-

-1. In an arc lamp, a fixed electrode, a pair of separately movable electrodes arranged one on each side of the fixed electrode, and

means for simultaneously moving said movable electrodes away from said fixed electhe fixed electrode.

2. In an arc lamp, a fixed electrode, a

pair of separately movable electrodes arranged one on each side of the fixed electrode, and means for simultaneously moving said movable electrodes away from said fixed electrode to strike an are between one of the movable electrodes and the fixed electrode, and a second arc in series with the first are between the other movable electrode and the fixed electrode.

3. In an arc lamp, a pair of pivoted separately movable electrodes, a pivoted dash pot, and a pivotal connection between said electrodes and the dash pot. f

4. In combinatidn, a pair of pivotallymounted electrodes, a pivoted dash-pot, and link connections between each of said electrodes and the dash-pot.

5. In an arc lamp, means for establishing and maintaining a pair of arcs in series with each other, said means comprising a pair of 7 In an arc lamp, electrodes between which a pair of separate arcs are maintained, regulating means by which one are may be shortened or lengthened when necessary independently of a similar change in length of the other arc, said means comprising electric devices responsive to changes in the condition of said other are, and mechanical devices connecting the regulating means for each arc.

8. In an arc lamp, a pair of separately movable electrode-carrying members, a single dash-pot and a Rparate operating connection from each member to said dash-pot.

9. In an arc lamp, a air of separately movable electrodes, a sing e regulating dashpot, and separate operating connections from each of said electrodes to said dash-pot.

10. In an arc lamp, a fixed electrode, a pair of separately movable electrodes arranged one on each side of the fixed electrode, and means for moving said movable electrodes away from said fixed electrode and each other to strike an are between each of said movable electrodes and the fixed electrode and simultaneously maintaining such arcs.

11. In an arc lamp, a pair of electrodes, pivotally-mounted and separately movable supporting members therefor, and a dashpotcomp rising two members, one of said members being pivoted to a fixed support, the other of said members being pivotally connected to each of the electrode-supporting members.

12. In an arc lamp, a fixed support, a'pair of separately movable electrode-carrying members pivotally connected to said suport, and a dash-pot comprisin two memers or parts, one of said parts being pivotally connected to said support, the other of said parts being pivotally connected to each of said electrode carrying members.

13. In an arc lamp, a fixed electrode, a pair of separately movable electrodes arranged one on each side of the fixed electrode, and means for simultaneously moving said movable electrodes toward and away from the fixed electrode and each other.

14. In an arc lamp, three electrodes, means for simultaneously maintaining arcs between one of said electrodes and each of the other two, the arc faces of each of said electrodes being divided by kerfs into a series of fin ers or projections.

n witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this fourteenth day of November,

WALTER DA. RYAN. Witnesses DUGALD MoK. MCKILLOP, JOHN J. WALKER. 

